It has been a monster year for the former North Carolina Tar Hell Walker Kessler. After playing minimally for them in the 2020-21 season, he burst onto the scene as the starting center for Bruce Pearl and the Auburn Tigers.
Kessler along with freshman Jabari Smith have been the two key catalysts for the Tigers turnaround from last season. He recently became one of five SEC players to post two or more triple-doubles in the same season. Only two others have done it in SEC play.
Kessler also set the single-season record for the number of blocked shots in Auburn history. He currently sits at 135 with two more regular-season games remaining. Auburn will finish out the season at Mississippi State on Wednesday and the season finale at home against South Carolina. It isn’t out of the realm of possibility to see him hit 150 before heading into the SEC Tournament.
For his efforts this season, Kessler has been named among the 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award. On top of his 135 blocks, Kessler has tallied 237 rebounds and 30 steals. He challenges so many shots at the rim that teams have to be selective with how they attack the rim when he is in the game.
Kessler joins this list of semifinalists:
- Tari Eason, LSU
- Jacob Gilyard, Richmond
- Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
- Christian Koloko, Arizona
- Caleb McConnell, Rutgers
- Kevin McCullar, Texas Tech
- Jamarion Sharp, Western Kentucky
- Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky
- Mark Williams, Duke
Here are your 2022 Naismith Men's College Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalists!💥💪🏻
Stay tuned to find out who will be the winner of this year’s award, which will be announced on April 3rd🎖👀https://t.co/8xBoNjmSkM pic.twitter.com/EF8fEFAUaD
— The Naismith Trophy (@NaismithTrophy) March 1, 2022
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